St. Kenneth of Wales, Hermit(Cenydd, Kyned, Kened, Keneth, Kined)

1 August

Died 6th century; feast of his translation is June 27. Saint Kenneth is
believed to have been a Welsh hermit, the son of a
chieftain. Welsh tradition, however, makes him the son of
Saint Gildas (f.d. January 29),
one of the most important Welsh monks. He married
and had at least one son then became a monk under
Saint Illtyd (f.d. November 6).
Thereafter, Kenneth was a hermit who made his cell among
the rocks in the peninsula of Gower and founded Llangenydd. He later
went to Brittany, where Ploumelin is the centre of his cultus.

An extraordinary event is connected with Kenneth's name that is recorded
in Welsh sources. Kenneth was born a cripple in Brittany, placed in a
cradle of osiers, and dropped into a stream, like Moses, which took him
to the island of "Henisweryn." He survived there because of a series of
miracles and angelic interventions. Educated as a Christian, he became
a hermit and was joined by a servant. This man stole the lance of some
robbers to whom Kenneth had extended hospitality. Later,
Saint David of Wales (f.d. March 1)
cured Kenneth of his deformity, but the saint was
displeased and asked that it be restored as it was before. A
breast-shaped bell figures prominently in this unfinished tale, which
ends abruptly without resolution.

Saint Kenneth, however, is no legendary figure. The calendar and
place-names point to his existence. His feast is celebrated in Wales,
Brittany, and England
(Benedictines,
Farmer).